Category: 2024

Across The Continent – 24th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

An entire life within the crashing waves
Hands held and shown what to do
Never stand with your back to the ocean
Ride the rips just passing through

Now the city is the best teacher
From drill bits to bureaucratic affairs
Those unflinching bureaucratic eyes
Offer little with their dead-eyed stares

These are days to tell about
Belonging everywhere ever been
Sick of these city shenanigans
You must choose one it seems

Continuing the theme from Across The Room. Inspired, borrowed and paraphrased from this post at Spinning Visions.

Today I’m feeling:

Not so good after a bad sleep due to all the spice from dinner. I skipped exercise for a little extra rest but this morning my stomach is still in a state of gurgling.

I’m also still not sure if I might be getting Amy’s flu. Without exercise, I couldn’t stand a cold shower this morning and today is my first jacket day of winter.

Around 9.30am, my stomach had settled and I could enjoy the rest of the day more. Still tired, though but at least don’t feel like any flu symptoms are developing.

Health:

Physical: 6
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

The wooden scent blocks in the car that are slowly removing the smells of it once being Amy’s mum’s and slowly becoming mine.

The best thing about today was:

Listening to students explain their decisions about some English work I gave them about the Thai TV show Hormones.

I was surprised at a couple of students at how close-minded they were, whilst a couple of others were able to well articulate their thoughts.

I’ll try to find some other topics and questions like this.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

A couple of students in my last class were quite rude in their exclamations for the class to go faster so that they could leave early. I was firm with them the first time, threatened them the second and made fun of them the third time.

It was a bit annoying but maybe it was frustrating for them as they didn’t know how long the class was going to take, while I did and knew that they would have plenty of time.

Something I learned today?

A TikTok video taught me the significance of Chinese chopsticks, why they are the length they are and why one end is round and the other square.

Pin took this picture and sent it to me later with a note, ‘so cute’, which is very kind of her to say!

Bombs And Bread – 23rd December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 6 Comments

Can you name even one of the dead?
Whilst dropping both bombs and bread
You defend these actions instead
And defiantly nodding your head

But killing kids is not self-defence
Spreading peace through violence
This is no place for indifference
This is no time for your silence

Since when has questioning charred corpses
Been more offensive than actual charred corpses?

Today I’m feeling:

Tired and dizzy, especially after exercise. I didn’t sleep well last night and woke up tired. At school now and feel a little out of it.

Amy woke up coughing and saying she is sick, so perhaps I have something coming on, too.

I felt a bit more with it by the afternoon but also with a blocked nose. I’m looking forward to getting home.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Amy’s idea of getting mala for dinner in an effort to blow away any potential lurgy. Not sure if it will work but it was deliciously hot and spicy anyway.

The best thing about today was:

There’s a good feeling around school as next week is a holiday. Students are happy and playful and don’t seem to mind doing some work too.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Watching George turn up an hour late to his class today. Most of his students had already disappeared by then anyway.

It is annoying to watch but I’m trying to put it out of my mind.

Amy took this picture because our bovine visitor came back again today.

Erasing Metaphor – 22nd December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

plain and simple
hey symbolic metaphors
late night sleep

a bowl of your pretty little mind
a pair of red leaves fall
wine walking

this day is a week
you want good
not better

your cup now is September
how many I love have flown my kitchen
arranging a perfect child

I like to eat then, forgetting the ocean
a restlessness or
inhabiting quiet

some never talk again
and now to cut up a life
could I have chosen myself

An erasure poem adapted from this wonderful writing at tiny hearts (see below)

Today I’m feeling:

Tired still, aching still but also with some inspiration to do something, though that may just end up being reading, playing guitar and watching videos as usual.

(Later) Indeed, that is how it turned out, with a little bit of chopping some of the Indian pencil tree down as it was getting out of control and sweeping the entertainment area.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Not going on that bike ride today and getting another relaxing day in instead.

Also, to the kids next door who interrupted me when I was playing guitar and made me think not to be too serious. Random little interruptions are good to change pace sometimes.

The best thing about today was:

A big, sad skinny white cow came into our garden around lunch time and made itself at home under the shade of the trees and hung around for a few hours until the cowman came.

Whilst it was sat down, I gave it some rubs (not sure what gender it was), which hopefully transferred some goodness into its suffering body. My fingers were black afterwards.

Something I learned today?

Reading David Foster Wallace’s Consider The Lobster today told me way more than I needed to know about lobsters but also had me opening up Google Maps where I discovered that Rhode Island isn’t an island at all.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

One thing that I do is to fill up the toilet roll holder so that Amy doesn’t get caught out with it being empty.

I sent this picture to all my classes because I want to remind them that they will be bad at something before they become good at it.

A Love Letter From Minas Gerais – 21st December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Maturing in the still and humid air
On a steep Brazilian hillside
I deepen red as if blushing
Ready to be plucked and tested

Still sour before the procession
Dried on a dusty rack
Soon signed, sealed and delivered
My final journey nears conclusion

I’m roasted, stirred and blended
Slightly sweet and bitter
Cascading jets of steamy water
Extract my last juices

Remember me this fine morning
As you go about your day
It was my pleasure to serve you
To give you my get up and go

Written for an AllPoetry assignment about personification and returning to a favourite topic of mine!

Today I’m feeling:

Tired but rested after a ten-hour sleep and a weird dream about being in a South American country and almost being shot by a child, and then a pre-pubescent girl who was showing me around with a bunch of other kids got disappeared to be a prostitute. Not sure where all those ideas came from.

I have aches in various places from this week’s exercise. Good aches.

Today I’m grateful for:

A very chill day today, restoring lost energy.

The best thing about today was:

Finishing the chapter Up, Simba by David Foster Wallace. Next is the titular Consider The Lobster.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Utopia is closed until Wednesday as Art takes his staff for a mini holiday in Chiang Mai. This meant that I had to get coffee at Black Smooth instead this morning.

Something I learned today?

Through an online conversation with Baipad, we both learned that ‘blyat’ in Russian is a bad word.

I took this picture because Art joked that the coffee at Black Smooth would be in a big cup and be too hot and he was right!

My Backyard – 20th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Flowers bloom between my toes
Tamed all within this fence
The tree of life grows
Slaked by others’ expense

Beyond the hills and valleys
Where the earth is dry and hard
Adding to the deadly tallies
But never in my backyard

I’ll fight you off my flowers
Kill to keep my order
Raise up sentry towers
To keep you from my border

No, never in my backyard
Eyes shut tight to beyond
My garden must not be marred
No filth brought to my pond

Today I’m feeling:

Tired but happy and healthy. Exercise was a struggle this morning, especially as each day the intensity is increasing as per the plan. But I felt good once done, despite also probably being able to go straight back to sleep if I had a chance.

But off to work and just before my first class, one of the students told me that they all had to leave at 10 to go and do a particular math lesson. Ok, I can deal with it. Then, during the lesson, the time got revised to 9.30. Ok – easy. Done. And an extra hour break for me. I could easily sleep again, but have to push myself to finish off the day.

Health:

Physical: 8
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Some folks out there who spend inordinate amounts of time doing little things that only a few people will appreciate.

In this instance, I am thinking about a person who put together a complete comic book reading order for Marvel comics from the 50s until now. And not just a list but digital scans of them all too.

The best thing about today was:

Again, not one thing in particular but lots of little good things throughout the day all adding up to make a great day all round.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Both my morning and afternoon classes were affected by students having to go off and do things, and I was easy and flexible enough to go with the flow.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

Jet, Lin and Jee were all nervous about interviews to be leaders in the upcoming conference in January but I tried to calm them down as best I could.

Jee, in particular, was worried because Momo was also interviewing, and everyone knows Momo’s English is the best amongst them. I told her that it won’t just be about English skills but also about suitability for the role.

And sure enough, as I imagined, Momo wasn’t chosen, as the interviewers told her that her personality wasn’t what they were looking for. Momo was very upset and disconsolate, telling me that she felt like a failure. I tried to pep her up again and gave her a hug and left her with her friends, who were also a little shocked at this outcome.

I talked with Jee later and told her that she had no real reason to be nervous. Just do your best, try and fail, try and succeed, it’s all the same. We will still sleep in the same place tonight as last night.

The Play – 19th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Of course, I am the hero
This is my poem after all!
Well-intentioned and rational
Justice must be my call

So you must be the villain
A poet must have a foe!
Conjuring a dastardly plan
Laughing maniacally so

We take action as we believe
Ignorant of a better way
Both deceived by our duty
In this game of life we play

Today I’m feeling:

Good again. I’m enjoying the feeling of being revitalised from my morning exercise. I woke up with a start this morning, though, which was good in that I wasn’t waking before my alarm like earlier this week.

For some reason, I was dreaming about opening a (?) for my student, Fah, and I also had an impression that I had been dreaming about an old workmate, Steve. I’m not sure why they were roaming around in my subconscious.

My first class was fun and straightforward but the two-hour break following it has made me tired and uninspired. I will teach the same lesson again soon to another class of the same grade but I’m doubting it will go as well. I may be doubting myself here rather than the students.

(After) Although the second class was a little more difficult to deal with, everyone at least submitted something to me, whilst some of my first class just left because they couldn’t answer the questions and weren’t interested in asking me for help.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

My student, Spain, who filled me in on some classroom gossip from his perspective. He’s a year older than everyone else as he has some kind of quirky autism which held him back a year and whilst he struggles to interact in a ‘normal’ manner, he’s fairly bright and knowledgeable and today I discovered that he is particularly observant.

He told me how he sees everything that is going on, who is with who, when they come and go, lots and lots of details. It was interesting to talk with him but also tiring as I struggled to hear him through his face mask and the sudden twists and turns he makes in conversation.

The best thing about today was:

Buying a punnet of strawberries at the walking street and scoffing them all with coconut ice cream, yoghurt and mini-Toblerones in a big bowl. So much for all that exercise and trying to lose weight!

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I was not inspired to write after a provocative (to me) comment was posted on my poem, Christmas In Gaza, that I read this morning.

I’ve left the comment there without response but it essentially boils down to divisions through religion – ie, my god is better than yours. There’s no reasoning with this, so I’ll not engage.

Internally, though, the rage of hypocrisy burns so brightly. I need to let it go. It’s not my business what others choose to believe.

A few minutes after writing this, I started thinking about how things in general these days are about winning and losing and while some folks lose online arguments, others are losing their lives and the winners are rewriting their histories in some form or another. This triggered off a flow of words and I managed to get the bad feeling out.

Something I learned today?

Hong Kong is the only city in the world that uses seawater to flush its toilets.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

This morning, I encouraged Baipad to finish off a drawing she had started and when I messaged her this evening, asking her what the best thing about her day, it was that she had finished it.

Amy sent me this lovely picture of Tigger today.

Christmas In Gaza – 18th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 10 Comments
Article at sbs.com.au

Love and peace to all men
Your silent night, broken again
Tidings of comfort and joy
Burst wide open as bombs deploy

A Christmas, warm and bright
Lit by a white phosphorus light
Celebrating the birth of hope
Where none is found under microscope

The platitudes of seasonal cheer
Have lost all their meaning here
Peace unto you, my brother
“All I want for Christmas is my mother”

Shared with Poets and Storytellers United – holiday anxieties

Today I’m feeling:

Good, once I got moving. Since a recent iPhone update, my alarm only seems to vibrate, no light and no volume. Usually, it’s enough to wake me but this morning Amy heard it vibrating and wearily shouted at me to get up! I guess I was tired!

As I’d been waking up before my alarm for the last week or so, my brain was probably thinking that it couldn’t be time to get up yet.

Some tough exercise this morning and in my half awake state I struggled keeping my balance at times. The positive effects from it have carried me through, though and I feel good.

Health:

Physical: 8
Mental: 8

Today I’m grateful for:

Dutchie sending me the photos that I asked him for, which he took this morning. As we were waiting for the flag ceremony, we were talking about fashion, and Achang showed up wearing a denim jacket. I told them that denim jackets are kind of a 70s/80s style for me and not really in fashion.

I asked him if I could try it on and he let me whilst Dutchie took some pictures. I said that it’s a little too big for Achang and he told me that it actually belongs to his sister.

I thought I looked quite good in it.

The best thing about today was:

Soldiering through a slow workday, where only having to work three hours feels quite tiring, as there is too much downtime. I managed to stick it out until clock-out time by sitting in the cafe. I saw lots of my students walk by outside and Noah was excited to tell me that she and Lin have been chosen to help with the visiting overseas students next month.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Recently, I have been less interested in reading poetry. I think I have been overwhelmed with so much to read on prompt blogs and it’s burned me out. It always feels like a chore to analyse someone else’s work in the hope that they return the favour. It’s the ‘like-for-like’ mentality of social media.

Of course, I want my work to be noticed. I think some of it is good and worthy. But to trawl through another 40 poems about the seasons or the moon is a burden I’m getting tired of.

I need to refine my search a bit and perhaps find new places to submit my work where it might get some more exposure. Looking around, though, there are a million poets of all shapes and flavours, all looking for the same thing. I’ll just keep on writing anyway and do appreciate the people who do take the time and interest to read and respond.

Something I learned today?

In an odd coincidence, whilst I was talking with my grade 12s today, Alyn hung up a phone call from a name I recognised as a Facebook friend of mine but I had recently been wondering who it was, as they were using a different name.

She told me that it was her brother and that made me even more curious. It turns out that her brother is my old grade 9 student Achang!

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I received a message back from Anchan this morning, just stating that she is unhappy and I wasn’t really able to offer her any consolation. I reminded her that she told me that her aunt was coming in the next couple of days and that she was hoping for things to get better. I haven’t heard back again, though.

Noey sent me this picture from Utopia this morning because she will fly back to Bangkok, having finished her university life. I had been there earlier and hoped to bump into her before she left, but it wasn’t to be. I told her that I thought that she would be back someday anyway.

Lady Of Situations – 17th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 3 Comments

The knights felt themselves so gallant
One by one they knocked at her door
As if their poorly tested talent
Were enough to interest and explore

Their eyes focused purely on her dresses
She saw through their prods of deceit
Her castle would not receive their messes
Until their charms were removed of conceit

Their suits of armour soon became rusted
As they waited in impatient rains
Self-aware they weren’t to be trusted
And soon tired of playing their own games

What gift for the lady of situations?
The one who wants none of your gold
Deaf to their empty wild explanations
She’s chosen her own heart to hold

Today I’m feeling:

Really good after invigorating exercise this morning. It’s cold this morning but as I’m charged up from the exercise, I’m ok with just a shirt.

All the kids are asking me if I’m cold, as they are wearing thick jackets already. I can feel that it is cold but I’m not really feeling it. It’s 18 degrees, so still a nice English summer morning!

Health:

Physical: 8
Mental: 8

Today I’m grateful for:

Both of my classes today being very accommodating and easy to teach, though admittedly I had stretched this lesson, about the TV show Hormones, out across two weeks, so that this week all they are required to do is some writing.

They all complain about writing and think that they aren’t learning anything – sometimes the best form of teaching!

The best thing about today was:

Along with the two classes was a four-hour break, which I enjoyed at 22 Grams as Couple Cups was closed.

I got some reading out of the way during this time but also felt that I didn’t have enough time to do all that I wanted. But that always seems to be the case.

Something I learned today?

Amy caught up with Nong Na for lunch today and then Amy caught me up on her news but most of all, I was happy to receive a gift of Toblerone from her!

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I’ve been chatting with Nong Fah a little bit every day to try and help her with her English. She was upset with her art teacher because she wouldn’t let her take her artwork home to finish it. She showed me a photo of the art and I was quite surprised at how good it was.

I’ve also been trying to contact Anchan, as when I saw her yesterday, she was in a really bad mood, and today she didn’t come to school.

A teacher in his natural habitat. One of my grade 12 students had an old-school digital camera and was experimenting.

Demon Seeds – 16th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

The enemies of fun
Gather in dim-lit halls
Conjuring up devils
Eager to answer the calls

The enemies of fun
Are sowing their demon seeds
Of doubt and despair
On which their evil feeds

The enemies of fun
Are quick to infect
Spread their disease
Unable to detect

The enemies of fun
Multiply within
Mind twisting scared
Unable to begin

Today I’m feeling:

Good so far, as I’m waiting for my first coffee. Getting up, exercising, and breakfast all part of the routine now. No cold shower this morning, though.

I remember in my dream complaining about a sore hip and then waking up uncomfortable with an aching hip! Is this what happens when we get old?

Aing was also in my dream and she needed to pee – am I having someone else’s pee dreams too now!?

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

The different pairs of shows that I’ve found online recently. One of the pairs was causing me pain in my big toe again, so I switched to a different pair today and that has seemed to help.

I also came across the fact that there is a podiatrist at Bangkok Hospital and I will save up some money to go there and see if I can get some specific inserts made for me again.

22nd May 2026 – I still haven’t done this…

The best thing about today was:

Talking with Jet and Fah about a topic of debate that they had in a Thai language class about love and sex in school.

I was a little surprised to hear that they both thought that they should wait until they are 18 before having sex. I think it’s a good enough idea though, so long as they are all aware of protection and educated about it.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I was annoyed to see George turn up 15 minutes late to class as I heard his students shout over the balcony, ‘Why are you late?’ and then after 45 minutes in class, he let them go an hour early!

I know that I shouldn’t get bothered by what other people do, but it’s hard for me not to get upset by it.

First Snowy Morning – 15th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 19 Comments

Outside the window, I giggle in delight
The first feel of snow after a silent night
This day of love has already seen me grow
Because this feeling, I thought I’d never know

I found myself once finding my tribe
Along with a love I could only describe
Now felt without any suffocating
All this time patiently waiting

The love was always right under my nose
Because I could cry at heart-wrenching prose
Intoxicated walking along the city street
Even enthralled by the glass and concrete

I will sip this love through a golden straw
And take it home to the Eastern shore
Where the soft dusty snow ignites
A love for this garden of delights

Inspired by this post at Spinning Visions
8th Jan 2026 – Shared with Esther Chilton’s writing prompt #98 – snow
21st Jan 2026 – Shared with dVerse Poetics – snow

Today I’m feeling:

Good and rested, though I did have to rush to the toilet just before sleeping as all the food I ate today decided it required a quick exit. My stomach is still feeling a little off this morning.

Last night it started raining, which was a bit of a surprise, though now that the rainy season is over, any rain is appreciated. It’s also cooler during the day, almost pleasant weather!

(Later) As the rain settled to a steady drizzle, the air stayed chilly and I spent a fair few hours just lying in bed under the doona and reading.

By bedtime, stepping out of the shower felt unbearably cold and I chuckled to myself as it was only last week when I was wondering when it was finally going to cool down. Be careful what you wish for.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

The old guy fruit seller who always offers me a plastic bag, which I refuse. Today he asked me if I was cold, as I was only wearing shorts and a T-shirt and to be honest, I was cold. He grabbed my arm and told me that I am strong.

The best thing about today was:

Lots of reading, especially enjoying the Aussie comic Platinum Grit.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I bought a pack of fruit at the market and dropped it around to Baipad along with 40 baht, matching what she saved herself last week.

She was sitting on the salon bench playing an online game on her phone and couldn’t drag herself away from it. I dropped the fruit on her lap and stuffed the 40 baht down the back of her shirt and she didn’t even blink.

Ah well. Kids these days!

Something I learned today?

TikTok is like crack! Even I’m sucked in now that the suggestions are tuned to what I want to see. The theory of this is disturbing, but oddly, I’m finding that the information provided is far more useful than anywhere else, like YouTube or Instagram.